Leave It To Me, the daughter of Placerville-Forest Fantasy, lifted the Golconda St.Leger 2010, at Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon. The race, being the last classic of the Monsoon season which comes to an end in a week’s time, attracted seven runners - four geldings and three fillies. Fleet Indian started as the favourite in the race but by race time Leave It To Me had garnered enough support and the two went into the race as joint favourites.

Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Mr. Adar C. Poonawalla and Mrs. Natasha A. Poonawalla had arrived here to see their filly perform and the presence of the Western India-based owners may have triggered the flow of money towards her. Leave It To Me was looking a ‘picture’ in the paddock before the race and having a look at her, Mrs.Natasha mentioned, ”She is looking very fresh and well.”

It had rained the previous night at Hyderabad but the rain God seemed to have shown some mercy, staying away for most part of the day. As the seven runners started to enter the paddock for the pre-race parade, it started to drizzle lightly but did not intensify further. Dr. Cyrus mentioned as he went into the paddock, “I hope it will not rain heavily and if Prakash is able to judge the pace correctly the filly will surely do it.”

The drizzle was just enough to moist the face and reading the pace of the race, “Leave It To Me” was all that Prakash had to say. Sweet Heart set the pace and carried on till the last 800 metres. Leave It To Me was in second position till the half-way stage, wherefrom El Paso, Vijay’s Angel and Fleet Indian showed some urgency. However, Prakash was happy to keep his mount travelling at the same pace and never hurried with her. On entering the home stretch, Vijay’s Angel came in first but was soon passed by Fleet Indian and Leave It To Me. The grand stand was probably getting ready for a battle royale but when Prakash reminded the filly of her task, she speeded up readily and went clear by three lengths. Vijay’s Angel finished third another three and a half lengths behind Fleet Indian.

Imran Khan, the rider of Fleet Indian raised an objection against the winner for coming across and taking his ground in the last 100 metres was rightly overruled by the stewards.

Indiarace caught up with trainer S. Padmanabhan after the race and he said, “She has won three races in her career and all of them have been at Malakpet, a Million on Invitation day last October, the Oaks, last winter and now the St. Leger.”

Chestnut Charmer (Case Law – Simple Honey), ridden by P.S. Chouhan, lifted the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy, a race for horses in the highest category, run over 1,100 metres. Kohinoor Mystic, the course record holder over five furlongs, was the first favourite but failed to impress. The pace was fast with Chestnut Charmer along the rails, Zycon in the centre and Kohinoor Mystic on the far side. Kohinoor Mystic could never get to the rails which his rider was trying to do right through and fizzled out. Above The Line covered a lot of ground from the last position to finish second.

Tristar (Hammerstein – Young Senorita) moved the fastest inside the final furlong to emerge clear in the S .Rangarajan Memorial Cup. Scubarioo made rapid progress to beat Kohinoor King and Lone Ranger for the second place in a close finish amongst the three.

Imran Khan, who had ridden Tristar to victory had a back to back double, winning the Scintillating Plate on Satheesh-trained Modest Bride (Warrshan – rainbow Flash). Imaan finished a tame second ahead of Smrithiman.

Jockey P.S. Chouhan too had a double, winning on Laxman Singh-trained Elzaam, in the Smt. C. Mohana Kumari Sathyanarayana Memorial Cup. Positioning herself in second, Elzaam (Tirol – Shark Games) left the entire field cold on entering the straight, winning by a wide margin.

Retro Magic (Young Senor – Regal State) won the higher division of the Loyal Prince Plate, holding on from Anguna, who was inching closer with every stride. True Fashion warmed up late and was finishing on being third. The lower division went in favour of Winning Rays, who foiled a big gamble on Standing Ovation.

L. D’Silva’s Arcturus (Don Micheletto – Swiss Maid) picked up speed when the well-backed Retaliate came alongside in the final 300 metres and lifted the Tick Tock Plate, the opening race of the day.